Natural hazards · Natchitoches

Natchitoches, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Natchitoches comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Natchitoches?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Natchitoches to be higher than in 14% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding40%Tornadoes15%Heat waves14%Strong wind12%Hurricanes5%Hail5%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Natchitoches faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

40% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 8% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Heat waves

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Recorded about 22 times a year in the area

Strong wind

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 17 years in the area

Hail

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Natchitoches flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Natchitoches, from FEMA’s records.

44paid claims since 1979

$984Kpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 10 claims, $554K
Spring storm: 1 claim, $2K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Natchitoches isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Natchitoches Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Natchitoches

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Natchitoches itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Natchitoches.

Brought FEMA money into NatchitochesDeclared for Natchitoches Parish only

2021

Hurricane Ida

2 households applied for aid $500 aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

126 households applied for aid $96K aid approved $209K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2020

Hurricane Laura

3,257 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved $2.1M to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

868 households applied for aid $1.4M aid approved $68K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

1 household applied for aid $169K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

52 households applied for aid $52K aid approved $3K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

$480K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

1 household applied for aid $24K aid approved $7K to the City of Natchitoches for repairs

Natchitoches Parish has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Natchitoches covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Natchitoches’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Natchitoches. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Natchitoches total about $3.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

Natchitoches, LA natural hazards

How exposed is Natchitoches?

What Natchitoches faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Heat waves

Strong wind

Hurricanes

Hail

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Natchitoches flood?

Biggest named events

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Hurricane Ida

Severe Winter Storms

Hurricane Laura

Severe Storms and Flooding

Hurricane Gustav

Severe Storms and Flooding

Hurricane Rita

Hurricane Katrina

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

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